SHILLONG, Feb 6: The ambitious Smart City initiative in Shillong, heralded as a breakthrough in modern urban planning, now finds itself at a crossroads. Early promises of a revolution in public amenities, connectivity, and sustainability are being overshadowed by a litany of stalled projects and bureaucratic inertia.
Among the most glaring delays is the multi-level automated car park at Mawkhar, which, spearheaded by M/s Aloysius Arengh in partnership with LT Elevator Private Limited from Kolkata, has only reached 38% completion — far behind its scheduled completion by March 2025.
This was revealed according to the latest RTI filed by activist Disparsing Rani.
Compounding the issues are controversies surrounding the development of 6 km of smart roads, currently under stringent government review following foreclosure concerns. Additionally, plans for a new fire hydrant system and the installation of 240 street lights have been suspended, further contributing to the growing list of stalled Smart City projects.
